The Cold, Aloof Senior Sister Deserves To Be Paired With A Peerless Beauty - Chapter 35

Can she tear the rumor-monger apart today?

A secret realm is called such because no one knows what kind of magical artifacts lie hidden within each time it opens, nor what dangers lurk inside.

These realms open once every fifty years. While the timing is fixed, the location is not, where it appears depends entirely on fate. However, any cultivator entering must be below the Golden Core stage. If a cultivator above that level tries to force their way in, they risk infuriating the realm’s guardian at best, they are thrown out at worst, they are killed instantly.

It was once joked that cultivators entering these realms without sufficient strength were like pets being toyed with by an unseen master. Despite this, the immortal sects never lose interest, meticulously training disciples specifically for these openings. Their enthusiasm stems from the hope that a divine artifact might be hidden inside.

Although no one could explain why this opening occurred a full year early, the sects began selecting candidates and sending elders to scout the location.

Chi Li knew exactly where it would be: within the Cangqing Sect. As the eldest martial sister, she finished processing the invitations from various sects just as their representatives began to arrive. She was forced to act as a greeter. After some thought, to prevent Mu Zhi from encountering unnecessary trouble she couldn’t handle, Chi Li kept her by her side.

Mu Zhi had no objections and followed Chi Li happily.

After the polite pleasantries, the visiting cultivators were led away by other disciples. Mu Zhi watched Chi Li, noting how her cold features gained a certain composed charm when handling affairs, making it hard to look away.

Sensing the gaze, Chi Li was about to ask Mu Zhi if she was tired when her eyes caught sight of someone, and her expression instantly darkened. Mu Zhi noticed the obvious displeasure and followed Chi Li’s gaze to a refined-looking man followed by several disciples in matching robes.

When the man saw Chi Li, his expression stiffened, and his “gentlemanly” facade nearly crumbled.

“Does Senior Sister know him?” Mu Zhi whispered.

Chi Li suppressed the killing intent in her eyes and looked away, her voice laced with disgust.

“A hypocrite.”

Before Mu Zhi could ask more, Yun Xi, wearing a veil, walked over and greeted them. Chi Li remained cold, so Yun Xi didn’t press her luck and sidled up to Mu Zhi instead. Mu Zhi wasn’t surprised to see a “stranger,” knowing Yun Xi used a disguise veil.

“Little Junior Sister, isn’t it boring following her? Come play elsewhere with Senior Sister Yun,” Yun Xi said with a mischievous smile, blatantly trying to “kidnap” Mu Zhi in front of Chi Li.

Mu Zhi shook her head, glanced at Chi Li with a smile, and replied, “Following Senior Sister is fine.”

Yun Xi didn’t give up, but Mu Zhi preempted her with a knowing look. “Is Senior Sister Yun out of wine?”

Touched by Mu Zhi’s attentiveness, Yun Xi looked around warily before whispering, “Lower your voice! My master has finished his secluded meditation.”

Mu Zhi nodded. “I’ll have someone send some to you tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much, Junior Sister Mu!”

At that moment, the refined man from earlier walked toward them, his smile forced. Yun Xi caught sight of him and frowned deeply, her voice dripping with contempt.

“How does he still dare to show his face? Does he have a death wish?”

Between Chi Li’s coldness and Yun Xi’s disgust, it was clear the newcomer was bad news. Even if he looked as gentle as jade, it was likely just a fox’s disguise. Mu Zhi, remembering her own father’s terrifying transformation when he dropped his mask, felt a surge of wariness.

As the man reached them, Chi Li gave him a freezing glare and took Mu Zhi’s hand to leave. But then, a loathsome voice rang out.

“Eldest Senior Sister.”

It felt as if her feet were weighed down by stones, forcing her to stay and accept whatever arrangement was coming. Seeing Chi Li stop, the two men, the refined man and Mo Fan, who was standing next to him looked pleased.

“Eldest Senior Sister, the Head Disciple of the Jijian Sect, Pang Fei, said there was a misunderstanding between you. Since I saw you here, I brought him over,” Mo Fan said, breaking the awkward silence.

Chi Li’s expression was icy as she replied ruthlessly, “Presumptuous.”

Both men froze. Mo Fan’s face flickered before he gave Pang Fei an encouraging look. Pang Fei struggled to maintain his composure under the suffocating pressure radiating from Chi Li, but he forced himself to speak.

“Daoist Chi, there was a misunderstanding before. Since I’ve brought my juniors here today, I wanted to offer an apology.”

Chi Li looked at him with mockery. “An apology fifty years late isn’t an apology, it’s a refusal to admit fault.”

The pressure she exerted made those around them retreat, the two men felt as though their spines were about to snap. Mo Fan tried to smooth things over.

“Eldest Senior Sister, even if fifty years have passed, he has the heart to make amends.”

Chi Li found it laughable. Pang Fei, seemingly blind to the killing intent in her eyes, spoke in a tone that was utterly nauseating: “Fifty years have passed. Daoist Chi should have let go of her anger by now.”

His words painted Chi Li as petty and narrow minded. But Chi Li didn’t care. Her voice was like shards of ice.

“Even if I don’t accept this apology today, no one dares question me, let alone talk about forgiveness.”

Despite this, Mo Fan kept pleading. “Senior Sister, he is sincere.”

Chi Li sneered, looking down at them like ants. “He was ‘sincere’ when he tried to frame me fifty years ago, too.”

Violent spiritual energy surged like a blade. At that moment, Mu Zhi reached out and grasped Chi Li’s wrist. The warmth through the fabric helped Chi Li suppress her murderous intent. The moment the invisible resistance at her feet vanished, Chi Li turned and walked away, followed by Mu Zhi and Yun Xi.

As they left, Pang Fei sighed hypocritically to Mo Fan. “It seems she still won’t forgive me.”

Mu Zhi paused, her expression darkening as she watched Chi Li’s retreating back. She turned to Yun Xi.

“Who is that man?”

Yun Xi looked cautiously at Chi Li before whispering to Mu Zhi, “You don’t know? The last time the secret realm appeared, it was at the Jijian Sect. Chi Li led our disciples there. After they came out, rumors started spreading that Chi Li was in love with that Pang Fei. It was a huge scandal in the immortal world.”

Mu Zhi’s brow furrowed, a dark glint in her eyes. “And then?”

“Then, the night Chi Li found out who started the rumor, she went to the Jijian Sect and beat Pang Fei for five or six hours straight. By dawn, she dragged a half-crippled Pang Fei out to clear her name.” Yun Xi tapped her chin. “But their sect’s doctors must be amazing. I heard he wasn’t just crippled, he was…”

Mu Zhi stopped listening to Yun Xi’s rambling. Her smile was gone, replaced by a coldness that didn’t match her youthful face. Yun Xi noticed the shift in Mu Zhi’s mood and leaned in, whispering.

“Junior Sister Mu, you’re almost at the Golden Core stage, right?”

Mu Zhi nodded, noticing the spark of mischief in Yun Xi’s eyes.

“You still can’t see my real face through this veil, right?” Yun Xi asked. She had modified her disguise veil so that unless someone reached the Spirit Severing stage, they couldn’t see through it. More importantly, it wasn’t registered with the Equipment Pavilion.

If it wasn’t registered, its use couldn’t be traced.

Mu Zhi’s eyes lit up as Yun Xi pressed a couple of veils into her hand. “I happen to have two extras. For you.”

Mu Zhi tucked them away and whispered back, “What kind of wine does Senior Sister want this time?”

“Same as last time.”

“Deal.”

The two whispered behind her, but Chi Li had stopped, watching them silently. When Mu Zhi looked up and met her gaze, she offered a brilliant, radiant smile like a warm breeze blowing over a glacier.